Plea deal reached over alleged bomb plot

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 13 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Maryland say in a court filing they have reached a plea deal with two students accused of plotting to bomb their high school.

The Washington Post reported Monday the agreement filed by the Montgomery County state's attorney office said conspiracy charges against Yonata Getachew, 18, and Anthony Torrence, 17, will be dropped in return for a guilty plea on lesser charges.

The two teens stand accused of plotting to set off a large explosion at Springbrook High School in White Oak, Md. The pair were also accused of planning to detonate a nail bomb inside their principal's office.

Under the plea deal, Getachew will plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, along with an arson charge and another arson-related charge. The plea leaves Getachew facing up to two years in jail.

Torrence's attorney, Charles Lazar, said his teenage client's case will now be moved to juvenile court because of his age. Attorneys for both Getachew and Torrence described their clients as special-needs students.

The Post said Torrence brought the alleged plot to the attention of the authorities, leading to Getachew's April 29 arrest.